NEW: These Celtics are different. On Monday, it took the form of a game-changing substitution. Jaylen Brown was mad. “To be honest, I was pissed.” But it embodied everything Boston wants to be. “You have to earn wins. It's the NBA.” Full story here: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-putt...

NEW: As the Celtics and Pistons battled on Thursday night, one team made plays. The other came up just short. “Momentum is crazy.” “I thought they just made more plays than we did down the stretch.” More Cade, the Celtics, and the flow of a loss: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-brut...

NEW: Neemias Queta has been crucial to the Celtics' new offense, and they've believed in him from the start. “He's ready. I think he learned a lot these last two years.” More on how Queta's screening has fit into Boston's new style of offense: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-gett...

NEW: Celtics vs. Lakers always means something. Even with LeBron and Luka out. “As a player, like, what better environment for basketball do you want?” When green and white meets purple and gold, all that matters is a win. More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-prov...

NEW: The Celtics roster wasn't the only thing that was overhauled this summer. So was the defense. “Guys are not comfortable [vs.] our defense... As soon as you cross half court, we're picking you up.” It's been chaos. But that's by design. Story here: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-chan...

NEW: The Celtics were down double digits after one quarter against the Knicks on Wednesday night. That's when Hugo Gonzalez checked in. “I don't really get intimidated against these types of players.” More on Gonzalez's star-stopping abilities: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-rook...

The Celtics completely manipulated the Pistons in the clutch on Wednesday night, and they beat the best team in the East This is how they did it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8_B...

NEW: Staring down the best team in the East and MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, the Celtics needed someone they could trust. That was Baylor Scheierman. "He can work through failure... It just makes him better." More here on the rise of Scheierman: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-bayl...

NEW: Sam Hauser is one of the most underrated defenders in the NBA, but he’s still targeted on defense. He and his teammates always laugh about it. “We always say some stuff about it.” “We're gonna keep that one behind closed doors.” More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-gett...

NEW CELTICS VIDEO: Underrated plays only real basketball fans will appreciate. Basketball is more than dunks and threes. These are some of the most fun Celtics plays from the past week. This insane Jordan Walsh pass is one, but the rest are right here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3gu...

NEW: This version of the Celtics is learning on the fly. And with that lack of experience comes bumps - like the second half on Sunday night. “You can't take your foot off the gas... Twenty points is not really anything.” On the learning process: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-fans...

NEW: James Harden nearly stole a win in Boston on Sunday night. But the Celtics fought back. That's how they'll have to win this season. “It's a game of runs.” “When those times happen, you just gotta try to find a way to change momentum.” Full story: hardwoodhoudini.com/harden-gave-...

NEW: The Celtics are a work in progress. But growth they've achieved behind the scenes is more important than growth on the court. “It's honestly about being vulnerable.” “Everyone's got strengths, weaknesses, hobbies, things that are annoying.” More: hardwoodhoudini.com/forget-box-s...

NEW: The Celtics are 2-5 in clutch games this year. Tuesday night in Philly was the latest, and perhaps the most brutal. “I think we’re going to be in a lot of close games this year… It’d be nice to start winning some of them.” More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-stuc...

NEW: Teams are starting to run on the Celtics, and it’s working. Every small decision impacts transition, and they’re all piling up. “It's all about communication.” “We got to match up better… You just got to get back.” More from Orlando: hardwoodhoudini.com/magic-jazz-f...

NEW: Payton Pritchard hasn't shot well from long range this season. But he's become one of the best two-point scorers in the league. “I don't even think when I'm doing a move, it just happens so naturally.” More on Pritchard dominating the interior: hardwoodhoudini.com/one-thing-pa...

Joe Mazzulla doesn’t want the Celtics to put their issues behind them. He wants them to embrace it. So, every time Philly made a run, Boston breathed it in, felt the emotions, and went from there. That’s how they won. That’s how they’ll continue to win. More in my story below:

NEW: The 76ers did everything in their power to force a Celtics collapse on Friday night. But it never happened. Boston always responded. Joe Mazzulla wants them to embrace the moment. “Instead of trying to kind of get out of the emotion, feel it.” hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-embi...

NEW: In three years with the Wolves, Josh Minott barely played. In two starts with the Celtics, he grabbed 23 rebounds and held opponents to 6-of-28 shooting. "It's just a blessing to be here." Minott has found a home in Boston. More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/josh-minott-...

NEW: Rebounding has failed the Celtics. Shot-making, too. Now, they're in a hole they haven't experienced in over a decade. Process over results is the way out. But the process is new. As are the results. “We got to chip away at it.” More from Detroit: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: The third quarter was near-perfect new Celtics basketball. The fourth was not. But it's all part of the learning process. “Maybe just got a little comfortable. Gave them life.” More on Maxey and the Celtics' tough Opening Night loss: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

No update on Jaylen Brown's status from Joe Mazzulla. Said they're going to see how he feels during his pre-game shootaround.

NEW: Opening Night is special. These aren't the same Celtics from past years. But the preparation is the same. “It's basketball, at the end of the day.” New Celtics, new excitement: The thrill of the unknown. Read more from Joe, DWhite, and Neemi here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: The life of an E-10 player isn't an easy one. But it's worth it. And with the Celtics, it's more than just an opportunity. “Great staff, great organization. It's fun to show up to work every day.” More on the inner workings here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: The Celtics are going to play fast. That means transition, help defense, and lots of screens. But off-ball movement is just as important. “The crucial part to playing fast is getting your spots fast.” More from Hauser, Jaylen, and Mazzulla here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: The Celtics' center room is brand new. That means developing new chemistry, learning new screens, and understanding new tendencies. "Being able to make the right read... Being able to do that over and over again." More here on the process: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: The Celtics want their bigs more involved this season. Luka Garza was at the eye of that hurricane in Memphis. And there's no place he'd rather be. “I want to be a part of the action, so it makes it easy.” More here on Garza and the art of the screen: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: The Celtics' new offense will be ever-changing, but they don't plan on losing the roots they've grown for the last two years. "We'd still like to shoot a lot of threes." From Memphis on the fluidity of Boston's offensive plans: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

NEW: Defensive physicality has been at the forefront of Celtics training camp. “It's definitely been a war out there.” But it's so much more than that. “We're learning.” “It's a holistic approach.” On the Celtics' defensive revamp: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Joe Mazzulla doesn't want to be 'Coach.' He wants to be 'Joe.' That relationship has been deeply woven into the fabric of Celtics culture, on and off the court. "I feel like I'd run through a wall for him." A deep look at what drives Mazzulla's Celtics: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

The Knicks have started playing the same drop they did against Tatum in the regular season on Brown, and he's found White and Pritchard for easy pick-and-pop threes. Great screen reads by the guards, and great job making the right play by Brown. He's been awesome tonight.

Sam Hauser is AVAILABLE to play in Game 5 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Official statement from the Celtics on Jayson Tatum undergoing successful surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.

Knicks just scored off a turnover, and Jayson Tatum is down on the ground writhing in pain. He's holding his ankle. Doesn't look good.

Sam Hauser is OUT tonight for Game 4 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Joe Mazzulla on managing stacked guard room with Pritchard's emergence this year: “You give the game what it needs. You trust all your guys... It’s just more about all the guys understanding that we have a ton of depth… We have a lot of trust in each other.”

Tom Thibodeau on what went wrong in Game 3: “Getting back in defensive transition. You gotta challenge their shots. They can go on runs, so you can’t let your guard down at all.”

Pregame scenes before Celtics-Knicks Game 4 tonight at 7:30pm. Celtics win, it’s 2-2 going back to Boston. Knicks win, it’s a 3-1 series lead. Jrue Holiday this morning: “I just think it’s us against the world.”

Sam Hauser is QUESTIONABLE to play tomorrow in Game 4 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Stunning last two games for the Celtics. Just about as bad as Tatum and Porzingis could be on offense. And all the Knicks have done is make winning plays. They’ve been dogs.

The Celtics have gotten every single open three they've wanted in this fourth quarter - they just can't make them.

The refs calling that foul on Porzingis after not calling anything on the last two Celtics possessions is absolutely horrendous officiating. Awful.

Third quarter. I don't understand this at all.

The 2025 NBA Playoffs have been filled to the brim with UGLY basketball, sheesh

Celtics fighting the Game 1 demons right now. This is EXACTLY how the Knicks comeback started the other night. Bad transition defense after missed shots.

Something is very wrong with Jayson Tatum tonight. He's not even looking to shoot the ball at times, and all of his layups have missed. Rough, weird game for him.

Luke Kornet, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday have been the best three Celtics tonight. Unbelievable stuff from all three of those guys. Game-changing.

Jaylen Brown has been unstoppable in this first half. The Knicks have absolutely no answer for him.

The refs have swallowed their whistles today and Jaylen Brown has taken it upon himself to drive through any contact and force his way to the rim. Great work by JB in this first half.

Early KP review: Not good. Early Kornet review: Amazing.